The course analyzes, in the sociolinguistics perspective, the varieties of the language that constitute the linguistic thesaurus of contemporary Italy. Particular attention will be paid to the evolution, from the functional point of view, of the relationship between italian language and dialects of Italy.
Handbook:
M. D'Agostino, Sociolinguistica dell'Italia contemporanea, Bologna, il Mulino 2012.
In-depth articles:
G. Berruto, “Le varietà del repertorio”, in A.A. Sobrero (a cura di), Introduzione all’italiano contemporaneo. La variazione e gli usi, Roma-Bari, Laterza 1993, pp. 3-36.
G. Berruto, “Parlare dialetto in Italia alle soglie del Duemila”, in G.L. Beccaria, C. Marello (a cura di), La parola al testo. Scritti per Bice Mortara Garavelli, Alessandria, Edizioni dell’Orso 2012, pp. 33-49.
M.R. Baroni e altri, “Siciliani e Veneti a Padova. Uno studio sociolinguistico sperimentale”, in F. Albano Leoni (a cura di), I dialetti e le lingue di minoranza di fronte all’italiano, Roma , Bulzoni 1980, pp. 67-82.
M. Cortelazzo, "Linguaggio giovanile" [2010] http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/linguaggio-giovanile_(Enciclopedia-dell'Italiano)/
V. Gheno, “L’italiano «inviato»: SMS e comunicazione mediata dal computer”, in N. Maraschio, F. Caon (a cura di), Le radici e le ali. L’italiano e il suo insegnamento a 150 anni dall’unità d’Italia, Torino, UTET 2011, pp. 231-242.
Learning Objectives
Know how
To gain knowledge and ability to understand the social value of linguistic variation, from the theoretical point of view and observing its applicative impacts.
To recognize and to describe the articulation of contemporary Italian repertory; to gain knowledge of the basic terminology of the subject.
Competence
To evaluate and to apply autonomously the adequacy of the different varieties to the various communicative situations (communicative competence).
Attitude
The course aims at stimulating the student to a conscious use of the University structure, and to promote a proper and fruitful relationship teacher-learner.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of basic concepts of linguistics, grammar and history of Italy (mainly after 1861) is required.
Teaching Methods
Power-point slides are shown and analyzed; the slides are available on "Moodle" platform of e-learning
Further information
Students must enroll in the course using the "Moodle" e-learning platform.
Type of Assessment
The exam provides an intermediate written test on the subjects of the course. The duration of the written test is three hours. In the test students are called upon to analyze and to theoretically frame some contemporary testimonies of Italian and of dialects of Italy. The result of the mid-term exam is communicated to the Moodle platform.
The oral test consists, in the first part, of checking the written test. It follows the verification of the individual study activity, focused on the handbook and other bibliographic materials.
The oral part of the examination aims to test the ability of students to make use of the bibliography on the topics of the course, checking in particular the ability to process and to argue concepts and contents.
Oral examination can confirm or modify the result obtained in the written test. For Erasmus students and for non-Italian native speakers, the exam will only be in oral form.
Course program
The course has two distinct parts. In a general part, the fundamentals of the subject are discussed. This part corresponds to 4 CFU, and is curated by professor Binazzi. The course also includes a part on so-called "youth language" and on language of social networks. This part, corresponding to 2 CFU, is curated by professor Gheno.
The first part of the course deals with the concept of variation from the point of view of sociolinguistics, and its application to the repertoire of contemporary Italian. Reflection is carried out by reference to the key words: sociolinguistic variable; variant; variety of the language; architecture of the contemporary italian language.
Within the framework of the presentation of the variety of repertoire, part of the course is dedicated to deepening the linguistic characteristics of so-called “youth language” and of computer-mediated communication, with special reference to the so-called “youth language” and to the language of the "social networks".
In the second part of the course, the functions and relationships between the varieties of the repertoire are observed (in the Sociology of Language perspective), focusing on the recent evolution of the relationship between Italian and dialects of Italy. Reflection is conducted with reference to the key words diglossia, bilinguismo, dilalia.
The last part of the course is devoted to Italian dialectology, illustrating the main theoretical concepts of the subject and illustrating synthetically the linguistic characteristics of the main dialect areas of Italy.